This diverse anthology of short stories is a rare excursion for QueenSpark into publishing fiction. The stories explore childhood themes from an adult perspective, often in a quirky and original style. The content is entertaining, with a clear sense of humour evident throughout. The book recognises that writing fiction is part of a personal, subjective process and the stories in this collection reflect the individual experiences, ideas and inspirations of each of the writers. Through the writing process, it has allowed people who might not otherwise have classified themselves as authors to see their creativity find an outlet through the publication of this work.
Rare book

This work is the culmination of an eight-month creative writing programme that ran at QueenSpark from August 2001 to March 2002 and included two ten-week creative writing courses and four introductory sessions on writing autobiographically. Its aim was to involve new and diverse audiences and writers in the joys of creative writing. It utilised a variety of techniques and methods to explore two central themes; one of which was writing for children and the other was looking at childhood memories. This anthology contains work from the Vallance Memories Group and the Brunswick Older People"s Project and as well as being an enjoyable read, it provides a stimulus for reminiscence work, particularly with older members of the community.

This publication is the product of a course, on which participants were encouraged to tell stories of their childhoods. The atmosphere captured in the stories reflects the fun times that can be enjoyed by youngsters in their everyday lives. Some of the topics covered in this book include the important milestones of childhood, such as birthdays, Christmas, Easter and that perennial favourite, the seemingly endless summer holidays! The themes are relevant to children and adults alike, as everybody can derive pleasure from the lively and original tales that are contained in this book, combining fantasy and reality. Overall, this is a celebration of all things childish and fun!

Published in 1997, this interesting and diverse anthology is the outcome of work that was produced by members of the Hove Writers Club. It will appeal to people of all ages and backgrounds, who should enjoy this inspiring work, which reflects the creativity and freedom of expression that has emerged from the pens of its authors. Including poetry and prose, it focuses on the details of everyday life through the medium of creative writing. The enthusiasm and energy of the writers comes across vividly, and this should appeal to readers of all levels; from the academic to the pleasure seeker, as well as to audiences who are new to poetry.

This diverse collection consists of fifteen stories by new writers, including five pieces of work by young authors under the age of twelve. The aim of the publication is to allow people the opportunity to write their own versions of ‘histories' of Brighton and Hove and the material includes fictional accounts of real places and events from Brighton and Hove's past, both distant and more recent. The tales include the humorous, the poignant and the surreal and provide a glimpse into an alternative world, highlighting the eccentric and heroic people from the Brighton area. It is hoped that they will be enjoyed by both a local and a wider audience.

This is an anthology taken from work that was produced by the Hangleton and Brighton Women Writers' groups. The Hangleton group started meeting in July 1988 as part of the Hangleton and Knoll Community Festival. The aim of the programme was to introduce new writers and audiences to the notion of creative writing, using a variety of methods, to explore the central concerns and themes that impact on women's lives and to draw on their life experiences. For many women, it was the first time that they were able to see their work in print, and this was a positive and uplifting experience for them.

This selection of creative writing is the cumulative work of fifty people, who attended a writing weekend in Seaford, East Sussex in July 1993. There were four workshops in total, including one on autobiography and personal histories, one on poetry, one on storytelling from images and one on drama. From the beginning of the course, a sense of warmth, trust and mutual support was established which helped to foster the creative output that is published in this book. It is a testimony and celebration to a few very special days spent by the sea that proves how inspirational the sea air can be.

However people personally define poetry, this anthology contains something for everyone. The poets all hail from the Brighton area and they reflect a wide range of ages and backgrounds. The poems can read by those who are looking for a pleasant read, by the poetry connoisseur or the serious academic. They include many different themes, ranging from the light-hearted to the serious and fantastical. Their only common feature is their accessibility to the general audience, the high quality of the verse and their readability. This is poetry that reflects ordinary people's experiences with insight and humour and should appeal to all age groups.

There is a huge distance between those who find the written word easy and familiar and those who feel unable to write, finding the whole process threatening and difficult. These stories are the product of a project called 'Go Write Ahead' and are intended to demonstrate how this gap can be closed. The story 'The eyes can see clearly now' is about how it is possible to become a writer, by getting a pair of glasses and gaining a new vision. 'The call of the sea' is an account of one person's determination to survive a major life crisis and the central part played in that struggle by the process of learning to read and write with confidence. 'The interview' tells of a boy who leaves school and comes to the realisation that he is now responsible for making his own decisions. A different theme is covered in the story 'Figure of eight', which describes the damage that can be caused by being over-educated, to the point that the writer felt cut off from life by words.